WATCH: 1000 And Counting - Blues Get Off To A Flier

On the final matchday of the 2017/18 season, Everton and just five other clubs played their 1,000th Premier League game, being the only ever-presents since its inception in 1992. Over the summer, evertonfc.com will be looking back at some classic Toffees clashes from the past 26 years. Today, we remember an enthralling opening weekend encounter with Manchester United...

Everton 1-0 Manchester UnitedMonday, 20 August 2012

The opening weekend of the 2012/13 season threw Everton a home game with the would-be champions - but Marouane Fellaini’s second-half header ensured it was the Blues who got their campaign off to a flier.

Sir Alex Ferguson brought his Manchester United side along the M62 for what would be the final time but left with nothing to show from a gripping Goodison encounter.

Pipped to the Premier League crown by neighbours Manchester City in the most dramatic of fashions at the end of the previous season, United would have been keen to lay down an early marker.

However, the Toffees were full of intensity from the off and goalkeeper David de Gea twice had to be at full stretch to prevent Steven Pienaar opening the scoring.

At the other end, Tim Howard twice thwarted Blues Academy product Wayne Rooney, while Leon Osman and Leighton Baines also found their route to goal blocked by De Gea.

When Osman did beat the Spaniard shortly after the break, his shot came back off the crossbar, leaving Evertonians to wonder if it simply wasn’t to be their night.

But when former United midfielder Darron Gibson swung in a corner on 57 minutes, future Red Devil Fellaini rose high above Michael Carrick to crash the ball into the Gwladys Street net and get Everton’s 2017/18 up and running in style.

Everton would finish the season sixth and just miss out on Europe, while United got their revenge, finishing 11 points clear of City at the top of the pile.

Watch highlights from this game above now or, if you are using the Official Everton App, navigate to the 'Video' section.